HP Ups The Ante For 3PAR; Offers $1.8B In Cash For Data Storage Company

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This morning, we saw Dell’sannouncement that 3PAR had accepted its increased offer to acquire the storage company for $24.30 per share in cash, or approximately $1.6 billion, net of 3PAR’s cash. Now HP just upped the ante, offering $1.8 billion for 3PAR, or $27 per share in cash.

Clearly these companies want 3PAR. Bad. Dell had previously signed an agreement to acquire 3PAR for $18 per share, with a provision for matching competing bids. HP subsequently outbid Dell for the data storage company, offering $24 per share in cash, or also roughly $1.6 billion at the time. But Dell and 3PAR signed an amendment to the agreement reflecting the new offer price, which brought its bid up to par with HP’s offer.

HP’s Dave Donatelli says in a release: “Our revised proposal offers superior value to 3PAR’s shareholders, while maintaining our disciplined approach to only pursuing acquisitions that we believe will strengthen our portfolio and create long-term value for our shareholders…Not only is our offer superior to Dell’s proposal, HP remains uniquely positioned to execute on this combination given the number of synergies between the two companies.”

It should be interesting to see if Dell continues the bidding war. HP could have just made an offer that 3PAR can’t refuse. Or Dell could propose $2 billion for the company and we’ll revisit this again.